Steelers Now
Four Pittsburgh Steelers made Pro Football Network’s Top 100 NFL Players list. Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. was the highest rated Steeler, coming in at No. 33.
“By many accounts, Joey Porter Jr. had the best year of his three-year NFL career in 2025. His 88.0 CB Impact Score was the third-highest among all cornerbacks last season and was also a career-high for him thus far. His allowed passer rating of 56.2 when targeted in coverage was also the lowest he’s had in a single season,” PFN wrote.
“With allowed completion percentages beneath 50.0% in two of his three years with the Steelers, Porter has evolved into a true shutdown CB1 quickly into his career. His 5.0 yards per target allowed also tied for fifth among all NFL cornerbacks; he’s truly among the league’s elite at his position.”
Outside linebacker T.J. Watt was the second-highest ranked Steelers player at No. 42. Defensive tackle Cam Heyward (No. 49) and center Zach Frazier (No. 75) were the two other Steelers to make the top 100.
“Save for one outlier year in 2023, T.J. Watt has been a top-ten edge rusher by our EDGE Impact Scoring model in each of the last eight seasons. Even missing three games this past season, he ended up with 7.0 sacks and 10.0 tackles for loss, earning him Pro Bowl recognition for the eighth time in his nine-year NFL career,” PFN wrote.
“Watt’s 84.2 score ranked ninth among edge rushers last year, but what’s more impressive is the fact that he’s been a top-two grader five times in the last seven years and has graded as the top overall edge rusher three times in that span. He’ll be 32 years old in October, but still looks like one of the best pass rushers in the league.”
Heyward was ranked No. 39 on Pete Prisco’s recent top-100 list, dropping two spots from last year. It’s mind-boggling that Heyward did not make ESPN’s top-10 list for DTs.
The 37-year-old is heading into his 16th NFL season, but he’s shown no signs of slowing down.
“You want consistency? Cameron Heyward has graded in at least the top eight among NFL defensive tackles in our DT Impact Scoring model in six of the last seven seasons. Even at 36 years old last year, he still came in fourth among all interior defensive linemen with an 87.0 score,’ PFN wrote.
“A seven-time Pro Bowler and a six-time All-Pro, Heyward’s 90.0 PFN run-support grade tied for second among all defensive tackles last season. He’s now 37 years old but has shown little to no signs of slowing down. Every single season he puts together only strengthens his case as an eventual Hall of Famer once he retires.”
Before the dust had even settled for the Steelers last season, Aaron Rodgers showered praise on Zach Frazier, saying after the team’s Wild Card playoff loss to the Houston Texans that the young center has “a really bright future in the league.”
The national media is beginning...
